MovieWeb

Shrek (2001)

Shrek
Shrek
PG
Animation
Adventure
Comedy
Family
Fantasy

Release Date
May 18, 2001
Director
Andrew Adamson , Vicky Jenson
Runtime
90
Main Genre
Animation
Writers
William Steig , Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Joe Stillman , Roger S.H. Schulman , Cody Cameron
Tagline
The greatest fairy tale never told
Franchise
Shrek

Summary

Set in a strange, colorful land populated by fairy tale characters, SHREK is a hilarious comedy that will win over audiences of children and adults alike. Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) is a fearsome green ogre living in isolation in his own cozy little swamp. He is not receptive to visitors, and fends off the occasional party of torch-wielding villagers with ease. But when the power-hungry Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) turns Shrek's swamp into a relocation camp for dozens of banished fairy-tale characters (including some pesky dwarves, wolves, and fairies) Shrek's quiet, introverted life is ruined. Joined by the talkative Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek makes his way to Farquaad's realm of Duloc, where the Lord makes Shrek an offer: He will rid Shrek's land of the unwanted visitors if Shrek will go on a simple quest to free Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from her remote, dragon-guarded castle and convince her to marry Farquaad. On their quest, Shrek and Donkey run into a number of bizarre situations, and Shrek finds himself realizing that he isn't quite the fearsome monster he has always made himself out to be. Reinventing the traditional fairy tale adventure, SHREK features gorgeous computer animation, a unique sense of humor, and compelling characters--especially Eddie Murphy's lovable Donkey.

latest

These Voice Acting Performances Are Oscar-Worthy
These Voice Acting Performances Are Oscar-Worthy

Amidst conversations that the Oscars should have a voice acting category, here are 8 performances that certainly deserve Academy recognition.

By 
Millie Bobby Brown as Princess Elodie, wearing brown rags holding a shiny sword and pointing it at someone, with an edit of Cameron Diaz's Fiona as she prepares to punch someone in Netflix's Damsel and Shrek.
Netflix's Damsel Shares One Thing in Common With Shrek

It seems like Netflix's new movie has a lot of things in common with the story of a green female ogre from a beloved children's franchise.

By 
Shrek 
Every Shrek Soundtrack Song, Ranked

The Shrek soundtrack features songs by artists like Smash Mouth and Baha Men. Here's every Shrek soundtrack song, ranked.

By 
stephen spielberg shrek
Imagining Shrek by Steven Spielberg

For several years, Steven Spielberg was attached to adapt Shrek! by William Steig. The course of animation in film could've been entirely different.

By 
donkey-shrek
Shrek: Donkey Fan Theory, Explained

Pinocchio and Shrek might be from two different animation studios, but that doesn't mean they don't connect. Here's the Donkey fan theory, explained.

By 
Cameron Diaz opener
Best Cameron Diaz Movies, Ranked

Cameron Diaz starred in some of the most memorable films of the 90s and 00s. Here's a look at her best films, ranked.

By 
Lizzie McGuire
Top Feel-Good Movies of the 2000s

Feel-good movies soothe us through uncertain times, so here are the top feel-good movies of the 2000s.

By 
People Are Drawing Shrek from Memory and the Results Are Amazing
People Are Drawing Shrek from Memory and the Results Are Amazing

Fans are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Shrek by drawing the famous green ogre from memory, and the results are incredibly amusing.

By 
Shrek Fans Celebrate the Iconic DreamWorks Animated Movie on Its 20th Anniversary
Shrek Fans Celebrate the Iconic DreamWorks Animated Movie on Its 20th Anniversary

DreamWorks screened Shrek on the big screen for the very first time on this day in 2001, leaving longtime fans of the animated movie feeling much older.

By 
Shrek Returns to Theaters for 20th Anniversary This Spring
Shrek Returns to Theaters for 20th Anniversary This Spring

Ahead of the movie's 4K release in May, Shrek will return to theaters for three nights only next month in honor of its 20th anniversary.

By 
Shrek Writer Comes Under Fire for Racially Charged Anti-Vax Tweets
Shrek Writer Comes Under Fire for Racially Charged Anti-Vax Tweets

Aladdin and Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriter Terry Rossio has sparked controversy while debating vaccines on social media.

By 
Speedy Gonzales Animated Movie Is Happening at Warner Bros.
Speedy Gonzales Animated Movie Is Happening at Warner Bros.

Mexican actor and filmmaker Eugenio Derbez will voice the super fast mouse in the big screen adventure Speedy Gonzales.

By 
Trolls Trailer: DreamWorks Animation Brings the Hair-Raising Dolls to Life
Trolls Trailer: DreamWorks Animation Brings the Hair-Raising Dolls to Life

From the makers of Shrek comes Trolls, featuring an all-star voice cast and new music from Justin Timberlake.

By 
Monster Hunt Trailer Unleashes an Army of Crazy Creatures
Monster Hunt Trailer Unleashes an Army of Crazy Creatures

After shattering box office records in China, U.S. fans will get to experience Monster Hunt in theaters on January 22.

By 
Edgar Wright to Direct Animated Shadows Movie for DreamWorks
Edgar Wright to Direct Animated Shadows Movie for DreamWorks

Edgar Wright has come aboard to direct an untitled DreamWorks Animation project about shadows, which he is co-writing with David Walliams.

By 
MW
Hear Chris Farley as Shrek in Long Lost Footage

Development producer John Garbett has released a Shrek story reel that features late comedian Chris Farley voicing Shrek before his death in 1997.

By 
Zombies Vs. Robots Movie Lands Dallas Buyers Club Writer
Zombies Vs. Robots Movie Lands Dallas Buyers Club Writer

Dallas Buyers Club writer Craig Borton has signed on to write the Zombie vs. Robots comic book adaptation, now entitled Inherit the Earth.

By 
Zombies Vs. Robots Movie Gets Shrek Director
Zombies Vs. Robots Movie Gets Shrek Director

Inherit the Earth, based on the comic book Zombies Vs. Robots, will be directed by Chronicles of Narnia helmer Andrew Adamson.

By 
MW
Pirates Writer Takes on Yucatan for Robert Downey Jr.

Pirates of the Caribbean Terry Rossio will re-write the heist adventure Yucatan, based on a treatment written by the late Steve McQueen.

By 
Dark Horse Comics' Breath of Bones Lands Shrek Director
Dark Horse Comics' Breath of Bones Lands Shrek Director

Andrew Adamson is directing an adaptation of Breath of Bones, which follows a rabbi who builds a Golem creature to defeat the Nazis.

By 
See more articles +